Nandi County Government, News, Tenders, Contacts, Website and Map

Nandi County News

Nandi County is Kenya’s athletics hub.It is home to tens of the world’s celebrated athletes, including world record breakers such as Pamela Jelimo, Janet Jepkosgei and the legendary athlete Kipchoge Keino.

The county, which is also renowned for its thriving tea estates, is endowed with a beautiful topography that mainly consist of the scenic Nandi Hills.

Nandi County Government

Nandi County is divided into six constituencies namely; Mosop, Emgwen, Chesumei, Nandi Hills, Aldai and Tinderet.

Other leaders include Dr. Cleophas Lagat (Governor), Matilda Sakwa (County Commissioner), Stephen Sang (Senator), Zipporah Kurgat Kering (Women Representative) and several members of the County Assembly.

People of Nandi County

Nandi County is home to over 752,965 people (50% male and 50% female), according to the 2009 National Census. The majority of people in the county are Nandi, a sub-group of the Kalenjin tribe of Kenya. The Nandi mainly practise subsistence agriculture and livestock rearing, although more people are now turning to cash crop farming (growing mostly tea and wheat) to supplement their income.

Other communities that live in Nandi include Kikuyu, Kisii and Luo – most of whom work on tea plantations and factories or employed by government and private companies such as Canken International. Because of its high altitude, Nandi County attracts a huge number of international athletes who come in for practise. They can be frequently seen running up and down the Nandi Hills.

Nandi County – Culture

Traditionally, the Nandi believe in a supreme deity known as Cheptalel or Asis, who is symbolised by the sun. Asis has a deputy, Elat, the commander of thunder and lighting. The community idolises spirits of the ancestors, Oyik, which are believed to control the affairs of human beings. However, most Nandis have abandoned their traditional beliefs for Christianity, with a few members of the community converting to Islam. The most popular sect among the Nandi is the Africa Inland Church (AIC), the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the Roman Catholic.

Ugali, a dish of maize flour, is the staple food for the Nandi. The meal is usually served with cooked vegetables or mursik – a popular beverage of fermented milk. Traditionally the Nandi wore clothing made of skins of domestic animals and both men and women donned earrings comprising heavy brass coils that pulled the earlobes down to the shoulders.

The Nandi practised circumcision of boys and girls as a rite of passage into adulthood. Newly circumcised boys were assigned the task of defending the community, while the newly circumcised girls entered into marriage. Female circumcision is, however, outlawed, and there is rising levels of education among the Nandi.

Major Towns in Nandi County

It is located about 40km south-west of Eldoret and serves as the headquarters of Nandi County. Kapsabet is home to many world-renowned athletes such as Bernard Lagat, Wilfred Bungei, Robert Cheruiyot and Pamela Jelimo among many others. Kapsabet is also renowned for first grade tea production, thanks to the many tea companies -including Kapchorua and Chebut – that have established factories within the township.

Nandi Hills

Like Kapsabet, Nandi Hills is home to Janet Jepkosgei, Henry Rono and the legendary Kipchoge Keino. The town is the burial site for the famous Nandi prophet Koitalel Arap Samoei, who was killed by a British soldier Richard Meinertzhage in October 1905.

Nandi Hills is home to huge tea plantations and a golf course, Nandi Bears Golf Club, where reputable golf tournaments such as the Kenya Breweries Festival of Golf and the Gill Trophy are held annually.

Nandi County Climate and Weather

Nandi County has a cool wet climate with two rainy seasons; the long rains between March and June, and the short rains between October and November. The rainfall vary between 1,200 mm and 2,000 mm annually, with temperatures of between 15°C and 25°C.

Economic Activities in Nandi County

The cool wet climate, complemented by the rich volcanic soils, makes Nandi an ideal area for tea, maize and sugar cane farming. Agriculture is therefore the main economic activity. The county has large tea plantations especially in Kobujoi-Chekumia and Nandi Hills areas. Dairy animal husbandry is also a major income earner among Nandi County residents. Dairy farmers in the county earned Sh3.9 billion from their produce in 2012. The milk produced is mainly sold to Kabiyet Dairies, KCC and Buzeki Dairies. Nandi has a huge potential to develop sports tourism owing to its association with internationally renowned athletes – many of whom train within the county.

Health in Nandi County

Kapsabet Referral Hospital and Nandi Hills Sub-County hospitals are the two premier healthcare facilities in Nandi County. The county has nine health centres and 45 dispensaries. With a doctor to population ratio of 1:94,000, there is certainly a need for more healthcare facilities to be established to cater for its residents.

Education in Nandi County

Nandi County has about 744 primary schools and 155 secondary schools with about 220,000 pupils and 27,000 students respectively.

The county is home to some of Kenya’s best schools, including Kemeloi Boys’ Secondary, Kapsabet High School, Kapsabet Girls High School, Meteitei Boys Secondary School, Lelmokwo High School, Laboret Boys High School and others.

Several institutions of higher learning are found here among them the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB), Mosoriot Teachers College and Kaiboi Technical Training Institute.

Notable Personalities in Nandi County

Nandi County is home to many world-famous athletes, including the legendary long distance runner Kipchoge Keino, Moses Tanui, Bernard Lagat, Wilfred Bungei, Janet Jepkoskei, Pamela Jelimo and many others. Koitalel Arap Samoei, a popular freedom fighter who was killed by a British soldier in October 1905, hailed from Nandi County.

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Nandi County

Banjoge Game Reserve is home to a small population of wildlife such monkeys, leopards and snakes. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has announced plans to restock the reserve with more animals. Banjoge is endowed with attractive caves that await to be visited.

Kingwal swamp in Kosirai area is home to Sitatunga, a rare brown antelope with long horns. The antelope, which is under threat from poachers for its meat, has a huge potential to attract many tourists to the county.

Main Tourist Attractions, National Parks/Reserves

Koitalel Samoei Museum

Category: Tourist Attractions in Nandi County

Koitalel Arap Samoei Museum was instituted in commemoration of Koitalel arap Samoei, a traditional and highly influential spiritual leader of the Nandi sub tribe. Incorporating the mausoleum of this great national hero, the centre is now a display of the cultural heritage of the larger Kalenjin community.

South Nandi Forest

Category: Tourist Attractions in Nandi County

South Nandi Forest

South Nandi Forest area is a mid-elevation forest enjoying rainfall as high as 1,600 to 1,900 mm/year depending on altitude. The forest is drained by the Kimondi and Sirua rivers, which merge to form the Yala river.

Main Wildlife in The County

The main wildlife in the county is the Sitatunga gazelles at Kingwal Swamp, Colobus monkeys found in the South Nandi Forest. There is also a wide variety of different bird species and snakes across the county.

Transport in Nandi County

The most convenient way to travel to and within the county is by road. The county has a tarmac road network that connects it to major Kenyan towns, including Nairobi (about 350km away), Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret and Kericho. Nandi has no services for air travel, with the nearest facilities being the Eldoret International Airport (about 40km from Kapsabet) and the Kakamega Airstrip in the neighbouring Kakamega County.

Hotels in Nandi County

There is a wide range of accommodation options for visitors. These include Nandi Bears Golf Club, Tea Planters’ Hotel and Kapsabet Hotel among others. Budget hotels and guest houses are also available in Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and other major urban centres.

Banks in Nandi County

Nandi Hills and Kapsabet towns are busy commercial centres with at least six commercial banks, including Barclays, Family Bank, Equity Bank, KCB, National Bank and Co-operative Bank.

Shopping in Nandi County

Naivas, Eldomart and Kapsile supermarkets are the main shopping facilities in Nandi County. The supermarkets are supplemented by numerous small shops that are found in various parts of the county. There are several open air markets in the county’s major urban centres where farmers directly sell their produce to consumers.

Nandi County Jobs

Nandi County Jobs opportunities for all qualified personnel and those who would wish to work with Nandi County government. Jobs in Nandi County are posted on the county website.

Jobs in Nandi County are awarded in a free, fair and transparency manner in the need to fight corruption in the country.

To access these Nandi county jobs advertisement click the link: Nandi County Jobs for the latest job opportunities in the county.

Nandi County Tenders

Nandi county tenders are awarded in a free, fair and transparency manner in the need to fight corruption in the country.

To access tenders in Nandi county click the link: http://nandi.go.ke/ for the latest job opportunities in the county.

Nandi County Governor and Deputy Governor

The current governor of Nandi County is Dr. Cleophas Lagat and the deputy governor is Hon. Dominic Biwott.

Constituencies in Nandi County

Nandi County Wards

Details about Nandi County Wards will be updated soon…

Nandi County

Facts About Nandi County

Geography of Nandi County

Nandi County is located in the Rift Valley, it borders the following counties; Uasin Gishu to the North and East, Kericho to the South East, Kisumu to the South, Vihiga to the South West, and Kakamega to the West.

Area (Km 2): 2,884.2.2 Km 2

Climate/Weather: Temperatures range from a mean annual minimum of 12°C to a mean maximum of 23°C, with rainfall amounts of between 1,200mm and 2,000mm per annum.